A 2009 INCREASE IN FOOD STAMP BENEFITS IS COMING TO AN END THIS WEEK WHICH MEANS MILLIONS OF AMERICANS HAVE LESS MONEY TO SPEND ON GROS CERIES. THURSDAY A STIMULUS PACKAGE PLAN WILL EXPIRE. SO ON FRIDAY, $5 MILLION IN SPENDING CUTS WILL KICK IN. HERE'S MORE. THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SAYS 193,000 PEOPLE RECEIVE FOOD STAMP BENEFITS HERE IN DUVAL COUNTY ALONE. IF YOU'RE ONE OF THEM, YOU PROBABLY GOT A LETTER NOTIFYING YOU ABOUT THESE CUTS. THEY AMOUNT TO A 5% REDUCTION PER MONTH AND FOR SOME, THAT CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. CHICKEN IN A CAN. ONE BY ONE, DENISE BELL SHOWS US WHAT SHE HAS TO EAT FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS. SHE'S AMONG THE FOOD STAMP RECIPIENTS SIGNING UP FOR LOCAL ASSISTANCE, SINCE LEARNING THAT BENEFITS WILL BE REDUCED STARTING THIS FRIDAY AND IN DENISE'S CASE, HER BENEFITS ARE ALREADY LOW, JUST $39 A MONTH. DEVASTATING. TODAY THE MONEY DOESN'T GO NOWHERE. I'M ON DISABILITY AND IT DOESN'T PAY MY RENT AND THEN I'M BROKE. IT'S ALL BECAUSE EXTRA FUNDS IN THE 2009 STIMULUS PACKAGE ARE DUE TO EXPIRE ON HALLOWEEN. THIS MEANS SHOPPING AT THE GROCERY STORE COULD BE VERY DIFFERENT FOR ROUGHLY 3.6 MILLION FLORIDIANS WITH AN ESTIMATED 193,000 RIGHT HERE IN DUVAL COUNTY. NOW TO BREAK THIS DOWN, A SINGLE PERSON HOUSEHOLD WILL SEE AN $11 DIFFERENCE ONCE THE CUTS TAKE EFFECT. NOW FOR A TWO-PERSON HOUSEHOLD, THEY'LL SEE A $20 DIFFERENCE. FOR FOUR, THEY'LL SEE A DIFFERENCE OF $36. AND FINALLY FOR SIX PEOPLE, THEY'RE LOSING $52 A MONTH. DESPITE THE CONCERN SOME RECIPIENTS MAY FEEL ABOUT THE CUTS, JOHN HAROLD WITH DCF SAYS HE HASN'T GOTTEN MANY CALLS WHICH HE THINKS COULD BE A GOOD SIGN. WE'RE OPTIMISTIC AS THE ECONOMY CONTINUES TO RECOVER, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET MORE HOURS AT THEIR JOBS AND FINDS WAYS OF MAKING ADDITIONAL INCOME. THE FOOD STAMP PROGRAM IS MEANT TO BE TEMPORARY AND HELPFUL IN A SHORTFALL IN THEIR INCOME. THE SENATE AND HOUSE ARE EXPECTED TO DISCUSS THE CUTS AGAIN ON CAPITOL HILL TOMORROW. SHE PRAYS THERE WILL BE HELP SOON. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO REALLY NEED HELP. LIKE ME. I'VE WORKED ALL MY LIFE AND NOW WHEN I NEED HELP, I CAN'T GET IT. DCF ALSO SAYS THE CUTS ARE REALLY AFFECTING YOU AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, PICK UP THE PHONE AND DIAL 211 WHERE YOU

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -

Denise Belsch is among Jacksonville food stamp recipients signing up for local assistance since learning that benefits will be reduced starting Friday.

"It's kind of devastating because today your income don't go nowhere," Belsch said. "My income -- I'm on disability, and that pays my rent and my JEA. And then I'm broke."

It's all because extra funds from the 2009 stimulus package are due to expire on Halloween. That means shopping at the grocery store could be very different for roughly 3.6 million Floridians, with an estimated 193,000 here in Duval County.

In total, the benefits will shrink by about 5 percent per household.

To break it down, a single-person household will see an $11 difference once the cuts take effect. A two-person household will see a $20 difference. A four-person household will see a difference of $36. And for six people, they'll lose $52 a month.

Despite the concern some recipients may feel about the cuts, Department of Children and Families spokesman John Harrell said he hasn't gotten many calls, which he said could be a good sign.

"We're certainly optimistic that as the economy has continued to recover, the people have been able to get more hours at their jobs," Harrell said. "They've been able to make some additional income. Keep in mind, the food stamp program is meant to be temporary. It's meant to help people if they have a shortfall in their income, to make up for that shortfall."

The House and Senate are expected to discuss these cuts again on Capitol Hill on Wednesday. Belsch prays there will be an answer soon.

"There are people out here that really, really need help," she said. "Like me, I was one of those people that worked their whole lives. Now that I need help, I can't get it."

Harrell said if these cuts are really affecting you and you don't know what to do, your best option is to pick up the phone and dial 211. There, you can can learn more about local assistance in helping you and your family during a time of need.

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